If you want fresh material to help deepen your observance and knowledge of the holiday, this two-book series will prove invaluable for upcoming celebrations.The Hanukkah Book of Celebration is divided into three sections:"Rituals," "Retelling and "Rejoicing: Family and Friends, Food and Fun," and "Hanukkah for Today." The section for "Family and Friends" contains practical suggestions and activities for young children, elementary school-aged kids, and teenagers. Zion writes,"Parents are the ‘high priest’ of informal Jewish family education, their homes the ‘temples’ for a wealth of learning experiences." My seven-year-old quickly appropriated the book and immersed himself in the cartoons,word games, puzzles, quizzes, hidden messages, and arts and crafts projects. My five-year-old liked the depictions of sign language for menorah and other relevant words and the Maccabees’ "Chutes and Ladders" game. Eight gift ideas — ranging from homemade to more quality gifts — will help de-emphasize the commercialization of the season. 

The broad reach of The Hanukkah Book of Celebration can fulfill the needs of anyone from the rank beginner to the learned scholar. The first question in the FAQ section, for example, asks if the candles used have to be multicolored. (No.) In the "Hanukkah Today"section, eight of the brightest lights in contemporary Jewish thought reflect on the relevance of Hanukkah. Rabbi David Hartman mulls over the miracle of the oil, concluding that the importance is not in how long the oil burned, but in the faith of those who lit that small amount, trusting that it would somehow last. Novelist Herman Wouk reminisces on the American Hanukkah experience in the 1950s, a dark, drab time when the new American Jewish generation felt "like children in the dark outside a house where there was a gay party."The Israeli Orthodox Rabbi Mordechai Gafni outlines an eight-fold path to spiritual illumination that echoes the Zohar, Rabbi Nachman of Bratzlav, and other Hasidic masters. 

The Big Book of Hanukkah has something for everyone with an avid curiosity about all things Hanukkah. Historians will revel in the scholarly treatment of the Maccabean revolt; philosophers will immerse themselves in the discussions on the tensions between Greek and Jewish culture and how those resonate in the Judeo-Christian Western society. Scientists will enjoy the profile and discussion of Albert Einstein, the first scientific superstar, who revolutionized modern physics with his insights on the nature of light. Kabbalists and scientists have a meeting of the minds in a section called "Eight Ways of Looking at the Nature of Light." The question, "What is light?" is first answered scientifically, and then through a kabbalistic lens, describing the Ein Sof (Divine Infinity) that emanates into the physical world. Heavy concepts, yes. But they are clearly and expertly explained. 

A chapter on heroes explains that Hanukkah is not just about commemorating the exploits of an ancient band of revolutionaries.The holiday continues to remind us that contemporary heroes, famous and unknown, have changed the world.These Jewish profiles encompass righteous gentiles, community organizers, and fearless Jews like Leo Baeck, Hannah Senesh, and Yoni Netanyahu. 

When these two books landed on my front porch, the rich and thorough material initially overwhelmed me. But having spent some time with them, I recommend that if you only buy one set of Hanukkah books this year, these are the ones to buy. 

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